In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet the prologue that is a fourteen-line sonnet sets the stage for the doomed-suicidal couple. First, "Two households, both alike in dignity" refers to two respectful households the Monteques and the Capulets. The setting takes place in Verona, Italy as in the line, "In fair Verona, where we lay our scene." Between the two families there has been a quarrel "from ancient grudge"....the two houses "break into mutiny" as their servant break the peace with hand gestures and swords. At home, in Verona, the blood has been shed by these two houses in ancient times; therefore, ..."civil bolld makes civil hands unclean" or guilty of the bloodshed. As a result the two houses will bare children that will die as a result of the their civil despute as noted, "from forth the fatal loin of these two foes/A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." Due to the sad affair of these children committing suicide, "the misadventures"...are "piteous overthrows." Next, the aged parents, Montague and Capulet, must bury their children as "doth with their death bury their parents' strife."
Date
Drama Prologue Analysis
Vogt/Rasch
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet the prologue that is a fourteen-line sonnet sets the stage for the doomed-suicidal couple. First, "Two households, both alike in dignity" refers to two respectful households the Monteques and the Capulets. The setting takes place in Verona, Italy as in the line, "In fair Verona, where we lay our scene." Between the two families there has been a quarrel "from ancient grudge"....the two houses "break into mutiny" as their servant break the peace with hand gestures and swords. At home, in Verona, the blood has been shed by these two houses in ancient times; therefore, ..."civil bolld makes civil hands unclean" or guilty of the bloodshed. As a result the two houses will bare children that will die as a result of the their civil despute as noted, "from forth the fatal loin of these two foes/A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life." Due to the sad affair of these children committing suicide, "the misadventures"...are "piteous overthrows." Next, the aged parents, Montague and Capulet, must bury their children as "doth with their death bury their parents' strife."